Looking at used Standards. Interested in the 490T bridge pickup as opposed to 498T. Does anyone know which years came equipped with the 490T? Thanks!
2019 SG Standard has the 490R/490T combo. In the past, a 490R/490T combo was the typical configuration for SG Specials with humbuckers.
Since the Standard Tribute has the same pickups, is it worth $400 more for polished lacquer and binding?
I don't think SG Standards ever had 490T pickups in the past. The "standard" configuration was usually the 490R and 498T, for many years. Just like Les Paul Standards. Later Gibson experimented with issuing 57 Classics on the Standard model, and recently the '61s. All of those are excellent choices. Lots of SG owners have replaced their 490T pickups with something hotter because the proximity to the bridge makes the bridge pickup seem to have less output. I played my SG special with its 490R and 490T pickups for almost a year before deciding I needed something else, and went with Gibson '57 Classic and Classic plus. Never looked back... SGs and '57s are made for each other IMHO. But there are lots of great choices for a bridge pickup, this forum is packed with recommendations: ANYTHING but the 490T... curiously. I've read many scathing posts about this, and since I have some experience with the pickup, I think many of the negatives are over stated. Just like I've read posts by guys who said the 498T was thin sounding (not true) or brittle, or overly trebly... (not true)... or too hot. *shrugs To me, they are all accurate. They might need to be dialed in by the player, which does not seem difficult. But I absolutely love the tone of the '57 Classic plus, and feel that this pickup is one of the best replacements for a 490T. It is hotter, but not excessively so. '57 Classic plus is my favorite pickup. But I've never owned anything by SD, or Lindy Fralin, or Bare Knuckles, or Rio Grande etc... so I'm sure there are lots of great choices. If you really want a 490T, someone on this forum will likely sell you one cheap. I put the 490R and 490T from my SG special into my step daughter's Epiphone Les Paul Special ll, and they sound great in that Epi, ...better than they did in the SG. Go figure.
I took the 490's out of my 2003 Faded after 10 years only because I got some Dirty Fingers and I wanted to try them out in something. Personally I like the 490's- remind me or a T-Top . Here's a sample of the bridge 490 in my Faded.
I loved the 490s, both T- and R, in both my Fadeds. Relaxed and versatile pickups able to cover a lot of ground. I set them both up with the 490R lowered and pole-pieces raised back to original height, followed by raising the 490T to tasteful balance.
Thank you, everyone. I always find stock bridge pickups to be too hot for my taste and have come to appreciate lower output pickups. A faded that I played was just about right. I might just pick up one of the fadeds.
IMO, definitely, as I find the feel and sheen of the clear polished lacquer to be unbeatable. I also prefer bound necks. But I think a lot of people won't see the value in those things so it's really a personal decision.
The 2019 SG Standard Tribute is actually a re-branded SG Special Faded. The only difference from this one and its predecessors is the crown decal on the headstock and a maple neck. I handled one in person recently and the rounded maple neck felt great IMO. If you choose to get a second hand SG Special Faded, I highly recommend one of the early ones from 2002-2004 that have the ebony board. Those are really great guitars IMO. I had several of them in the past, thinned the herd and kept the best one which is currently in the process of being refinished to a gloss translucent TV Yellow with the grain filled but visible through the color.
Gibson's SG faded special is another one of those "most excellent guitar models..." IMHO anyway. Some guys really like the Deep Gibson Gloss finish, and the binding and the nibs and the pineapple inlay and other bling that goes with it. But not me. I confess though, nothings more elegant than a Gibson guitar in "piano black..." ...maybe with gold hardware. Those features cost Gibson more in factory time, and layers of finish applied over and over, not to mention all the buffing and polishing... ...so the extra money pays for it. Gibson SG faded specials are not worked on so extensively, and so they can sell them to us for a few hundred less. These are the "working man's" Gibsons. I like this concept, and so did lots of other players, because Gibson sold the faded specials by the truckload between 2002 and 2012. One of the world's best guitar bargains. I bought mine in like 2008 and she's still the Queen of my music room ten plus years later. Mine's been extensively modded, but retains her working class elegance and attitude. Highly recommended.
Don't buy the guitar based on what pickups it has; that's an easy change. If you want a Standard, get one and put a 490 in the bridge. I agree, lower output pickups are the best. More is not better. 7.5K is the sweet spot IMO.
The only thing I don't like about Faded Specials is the fretwork on many of them. Shop carefully and you can really find a gem. Pull the trigger rashly, and you're putting time and money into it to fix those frets. Sonically, they're as good as any guitar I've owned.
Ditto. I had a Special with half-moons and ebony board. Those fret ends gave me hell until I took the guitar to my favorite repair guy. After a complete fret leveling and recrown, that SG howled with the big dogs!
You will find that higher-dollar boutique lower-output pickups are worth the price. Rewinds, Throwbacks, WCR Wagners, etc, can be had for half price used. And what a difference they make. It ain't just hype. Sonic heaven! It'll inspire your playing, and if you play live, the audience actually will notice your tone. I just took the 490-498 combo out of my 2002 and put in a set of rewinds. I have Castles in my other SG. Both sound different, both sound fabulous. The difference between stock and aftermarket is unbelievable.
